Professor Peter Erdei, Hungary

Professor Peter Erdei is Director-General of the Zoltan Kodaly Pedagogical Institute of Music, Kecskemet, Hungary. He earned his diploma in 1968 from the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and was Associate Professor of Choral Conducting there from 1973 until 2003. He was the first guest conductor of the Hungarian Radio Choir and became Chief Conductor from 1990 until 1992. In 1996, Professor Erdei co-founded the Kodaly Musical Training Institute in Boston, MA. He has also conducted the Teachers' Choir of Kecskemet since 1976 and served as Musical Director of the Kodaly Choir of Debrecen from 1983-85, 1998–2000, and 2003–present.

Professor Peter Erdei has won several awards for his premiere performances and recordings of contemporary Hungarian choral works. Additionally he has conducted, and held master-classes and lectures all over the world; from Europe to America and from Australia to Asia. Professor Peter Erdei is often invited to adjudicate at international festivals and competitions and loves to do so. Last but not least, he was given the Liszt Prize for Performing Arts in Hungary, and has earned himself a Doctorate Honoris Causa from Capital University, Columbus, OH..

With such an extensive record it should be no surprise that in 1995, the president of the Hungarian Republic awarded him with the Order of Merit (civilian) Officer Cross.

Blánaid Murphy, Ireland

Blánaid Murphy studied music at Cambridge University and at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart and has wide experience as a Choral Director. As well as being Director of the Palestrina Choir at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, she has been Choral Director of the RTE Children’s Choir Cór na nÓg and she is Director of Canzona Chamber Choir, Carlow Choral Society ,The Dublin Bach Singers, the DIT Chamber Choir and the Royal Irish Academy of Music Choral Society.

Blánaid is also Choral Director of the Irish Philharmonic Chorus on the record-breaking Faith of Our Fathers recording. Her CD Cór - choral arrangements of Irish melodies by David Mooney, is available on the ARSIS label and the Palestrina Choir’s latest CD The Bells of the Angelus, hymns and anthems from Ireland, is widely available. In addition, Blanaid has also worked widely as a vocal coach, adjudicator and teacher.

Jean-Claude Wilkens, Belgium

Born of a family where music was an important part of life, Jean-Claude Wilkens studied music in Seraing music school and Liege Royal Conservatory in Belgium, as well as in the Luxemburg Conservatory where he attended Pierre Cao’s classes of choir conducting. Jean-Claude has also attended workshops of choir conducting where he had the opportunity to listen to the advice of maestros such as Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Philippe Caillard, Fernando Eldoro and Eric Ericson.

His teaching career in secondary schools was diverted to that of cultural management, first in Jeunesses Musicales where he was director for four years, and then in the International Centre for Choral Music in Namur, Belgium where he was Executive Director for more than 10 year. Presently he is the Secretary General of the International Federation for Choral Music which has its headquarters in Louvigny, France.

Jean-Claude’s professional activities are closely linked with choral music and he is well known on the international choral scene. In Belgium he is conducting the female vocal ensemble Hodi, a choir which has received prestigious awards and great recognition all over the world.

Tone Bianca Dahl, Norway

Tone Bianca Dahl studied to be a singer and a pianist, later as conductor. She finished her studies at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in 1991 as Master of Arts in choral conducting. These days Tone Bianca is associate professor in choral conducting and stage performing at the Norwegian State Academy of Music. She is also conductor of the chamber choir Schola Cantorum as well as of female choir Vocalis, and is frequently used as a lecturer for choirs and choral conductors in the Nordic countries. Schola Cantorum is regarded to be one of Norway’s best chamber choirs, and is known for their special ability to communicate with their audience. In 2005 the choir won Grand Prize at the Tolosa International Choral Festival, as well as three 1st prizes, and in 2007 they won the Solver Rose Bowl in the prestigious radion competition 'Let the peoples sing'.

In 2002 Tone Bianca wrote a book for conductors called "Korkunst" (The Art of Choir) on singing, choral pedagogies and communication, published in Norwegian and Swedish. In 2008 the book will also be translated into English.

Mervyn Cousins, United Kingdom

Mervyn Cousins was a Cathedral Chorister at Southwell in Nottinghamshire. He read for a Music Degree at the Royal Holloway College, University of London, and was Organ Scholar there. He was a prize winner both at University and at the Royal College of Organists examinations. After posts in London, at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street and St James’, Sussex Gardens, Mervyn was appointed as Assistant Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 1987. He became Director of Music there in 1993 and was also Chorus Master of the Bury St Edmunds Festival Chorus.

Mervyn was Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral from 1997 until the summer of 2003, and was also Organist to the University of Liverpool during this time. He has played, directed choirs and given recitals in many countries including the USA, Canada and many European countries, as well as adjudicating at major festivals at home and abroad. He began his post as Music Director of the world-renowned Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in September 2003, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, and recently got promoted to Artistic Director. Mervyn combines this with further work in music education, including examining and leading choral workshops for pupils and teachers, with a regular emphasis on schools in the Merseyside area - as well as with other engagements further a field; the latter recently including the United States and Germany. Mervyn’s work at Llangollen led to the recent award for the festival of a Voluntary Sector Diversity Arts Award for a ‘unique contribution towards race equality and diversity’. He is the Director of Cantorion Rhos, a prize-wining mixed choir from North Wales.

NATIONAL ADJUDICATORS

Orla Flanagan, Ireland

A lecturer in the Department of Music at Trinity College Dublin, Orla Flanagan trained as a conductor with Péter Erdei at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music, Hungary. With the aid of Arts Council grants she has also participated in conducting courses and masterclasses with Gary Graden, Carlo Pavese, Anders Eby, Celso Antunes and George Hurst.

Orla has conducted The Mornington Singers since 2002. Under her direction, the choir was awarded First Prize and a distinction at both the 2004 and 2005 Cork International Choral Festivals and in both years, the choir was also awarded the Trofaí Cuimhneacháin Philib Uí Laoighaire. In 2006, she gained the International Jury Award to a conductor at the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival.

Orla also directs Milltown Chamber Choir, a nine-voice professional vocal ensemble based in Milltown Church, Dublin, and is a regular guest conductor with the National Chamber Choir of Ireland.

Brendan O'Connor, Ireland

Dr. Brendan O'Connor is a Marine Scientist and MD of Aqua-Fact International Services. He conducted the UCG choir from 19711981. He is a founder member and conductor of Cois Cladaigh. He adjudicated the Schools sections in Cork in 2005, the Sligo International Festival in 2007 and has been invited to adjudicate the International Choral Festival in the Channel Isles in October of '08.

He conducted the UCG choir from 1971–1981, during which period the choir received first prize on two occasions in the Premier National Competition for Mixed Voice Choirs at the Cork International Choral Festival. The choir also won the Pilib Ó Laoighre / Séan Ó Riada trophy. In 1982 he was invited to conduct the mixed voice choir Cois Cladaigh. Over the years the choir has had considerable success in Cork, winning first prizes in the Premier National Competition for Mixed Voice Choirs, the Church Music Competition, Competition for Light, Jazz & Popular Music, as well as the Premier National Competition for Chamber Choirs. In the 2007 Cork International Choral Festival, Cois Cladaigh was announced National Choir of the Festival.